SLUTTY STEWARDESSES GRINDHOUSE DOUBLE FEATURE

Two more hardcore porn oddities from the 1970s, offered by the ever-dependable perverts at After Hours Cinema.

The first film on the disc is IN-FLIGHT SERVICE, a 1975 effort from Charles Lamont. Contrary to reviews elsewhere online, this is the hardcore version of the film - penetration, fucking and cumshots galore - clocking in at a highly appropriate 69 minutes in length.

The film itself is a dog, poorly shot and naturally lit, with virtually no plot whatsoever. Which makes it pretty impossible to review.

What I can say though is that, after the tiniest bit of exposition (geeky blonde stewardess Linda wears the biggest spectacles ever and gets it on with a colleague on an empty plane while her boyfriend Bob drops in to her apartment and, in her absence, fucks her roommate), this is virtually wall-to-wall sex.

Cue lots of cellulite, wobbly tits, thick gloopy cum and - naturally - obscene amounts of pubic hair as funky music plays over the ensuing lengthy sex scenes. Some of the music sounds like it could easily be outtakes from mid-70s recordings by Goblin (no, really).

Interracial sex, dildo action, some lesbian stuff and a couple of facials are among the treats people can look forward to in this story-free exercise in artless titillation. The girls all have greasy, unkempt hair while the blokes (including Bobby Astyr) all seem to be going through the motions as the music alternates between comedic vaudeville shite, grinding organs and the aforementioned trippy basslines.

It all builds up to some bizarre Halloween party that provides people the excuse of wearing masks while fucking. Fair enough ...

I don't doubt that other sites were sent early, softcore versions of this film to review. But, honestly, if they were ... the film would've been literally 10 minutes long. It's all relentless fucking! (I've probably made it sound better than it is - although the echoed sound effects whenever a character shoots their load are quite amusing).

The real point of interest on this disc is exploitation legend Doris Wishman's (LET ME DIE A WOMAN; A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER; NUDE ON THE MOON) 1976 porno-horror hybrid COME WITH ME MY LOVE (a.k.a. THE HAUNTED PUSSY).

Utilising echoing dialogue, effective library horror music and some decent negative Polaroid images to build atmosphere from the start, COME is one of those films that could quite successfully work as a low-rent horror film without the sex. But I'm not about to complain when, 30 seconds in, we get a hot blowjob scene ...

The film begins with a sepia-tainted prologue in which the moustachioed Randolph (Jeffrey Hurst) watches as his gorgeous redheaded wife sucks and fucks his friend on their marital bed. Having seen too much, Randolph shoots the cheating lovers and then himself ("Even in death you're not mine", he whinges).

Fast-forward an unspecified amount of time, and the film then centres around Abby (Ursula Austin), an attractive blonde who loves sex ... and has moved into Randolph's old house. Worse still (for her), she just so happens to be a dead-ringer for Randolph's cheating wife!

In-between zealous bouts of lovemaking with males and females (including horny neighbour Annie Sprinkle), Abby begins to receive visitations in the night from Randolph's horny ghost. He fucks her daft during the evenings, while observing jealously as she romps with others during her days.

It all soon degenerates into nonsense as the plot dissolves in favour of random sex scenes, but at least they afford us the opportunity to witness the likes of R Bolla (a.k.a. Robert Kerman of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST fame) and a very young-looking Vanessa Del Rio getting it on in style.

Production-wise, this is cheap but cheery stuff. The fantastic cast are all game, the soundtrack is engrossing and the dubbed dialogue just adds to the overall trashiness. The minor visual FX on offer work in their own bargain-basement manner too. Oh, and the sex is good - better than the overstretched scenes that pad out IN-FLIGHT SERVICE ...

What COME WITH ME MY LOVE has to do with stewardesses though, I don't know ...

Both films are presented in full-frame transfers which appear to be accurate. COME looks the better of the two, although both display wear in the form of vertical lines and specks. SERVICE suffers from an unhealthy amount of dirt throughout, but otherwise it's colours and brightness are fine - as are COME's. Worn and faded somewhat, yes, but thoroughly watchable ...

English mono audio on both films is efficient, save for the opening two minutes of SERVICE which are blighted with an ungodly amount of pops and crackles.

Beyond a static main menu page, neither film has a scene-selection menu but each film has the following chapters: SERVICE (15 chapters) and COME (16 chapters). After Hours have also provided their now-customary "Grind-It!" function allowing you to watch both films as an unendurable double-bill with trailers in-between.

The best extra on the disc is a commentary track for IN-FLIGHT SERVICE from director Lamont. He chats energetically with The After Hours Collector about this production and, more so, his time working with Wishman. It's an affable and informative chat track, but unfortunately it ends after 41 minutes. I was enjoying it up until that point!

Also on the disc is the usual collection of After Hours trailers for other titles, including on this occasion SEX FREAKS EDUCATION DOUBLE FEATURE, HONEYMOON SUITE GRINDHOUSE COLLECTION, SEX ON CAPITOL HILL, THE COLLEGIATES COLLECTION, GRINDHOUSE POSSESSION and GRINDHOUSE OCCULT COLLECTION.

A good 4-page booklet containing valid liner notes from The After Hours Collector completes the package, along with a card voucher inside the keepcase offering 30 pre-paid minutes at After Hours Cinema's VOD site. You can't argue with that.

Review by Stuart Willis